PIP Renewal Result...just went from top level to zero.
Hi everyone,
I had my pip renewal assessment with Serco back in February after around 5 years on the higher level(extended due to covid). The assessor was very friendly, but I was disconcerted by the fact the assessment only lasted like 20 minutes, and be spent half of that asking about my gender care(I'm transgender, medically transitioning). When my mum tried to speak up on my behalf he cut her off.
It's been a long agonising 7 months but I just got my result today and I'm shocked to see that I've not been given anything. They've basically said because I drive a manual car and am self employed, that it proves I can do everything that I'm claiming I can't do(i only can work a few hours a week and dont even earn enough to get taxed). They've also said a few things that just straight up aren't true, like me having no learning difficulties despite having an ADHD diagnosis, and not needing any supplements(I get several prescribed and told them this). Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, they've also used my old title and name despite informing them I now legally go by a different name several times.
I'm honestly shocked and feel betrayed by the system. I sent them like 30 medical documents and it feels like theyve not even bothered to read any of them. I'm not sure how I'm going to survive financially to be honest. I wish I'd recorded the assessment but I forgot.
I'm going to get in touch with Possibility People, but can't talk to them until Tuesday. I know I'm going to have to do an MR, but I just wanted to know how long people have found these taking? I'm worried I'm going to end up without any PIP for a year or two. Genuinely don't know what im going to do.
Comments
-
Hi @VadaLoca, welcome to the community. That's incredibly frustrating, I'm really sorry to hear this has happened to you.
It's good that you're getting some help from Possibility People, I hope they're able to offer some advice and guidance.
The timescales can vary from case to case so it's difficult to say how long it'll take. It's often a few weeks before you hear back for an MR, but I hope some of our members will be able to let you know how theirs went so you can get an idea. Sorry that I can't be more helpful on that one, but I just wanted to pop in to say hello and welcome anyway ☺️
Fingers crossed that you're not waiting too long for a better result. It's a really rough system sometimes but a lot of our members have been through it so you're not alone in what you're going through.
1 -
Just so your aware ADHD isn't a learning diffuculty. Having a learning diffuculty is a completley different diagnosis. ADHD is a developmental condition just like autism is, and is seperate from having a learning difficulty.
Also having lots of medical documents don't help with PIP. Yes it shows you have a diagnosis, but it doesn't show how your conditions affect you. (Which is what pip is looking at). The best overall evidence for PIP is real world examples on how things affect you, and written witness statements from anyone who witnessed you doing them and what the consquences were when you tried.
2 -
MR results are generally reasonably quick, few weeks to a few months. But if you have to go onto tribunal that's when the whole process can end up taking more than a year. I would say 2 years is very unlikely at the moment though.
0 -
Thank you for the replies everyone.
In regards to this...a couple of my medical documents say how my symptoms are affecting me and what I'm struggling with. Would they not consider those?
0 -
Not really sure how to handle it because I'm aware they are only interested in symptoms, but then I've told them what my symptoms are and how they affect me and they've basically said they see no evidence for it, but I've submitted so much evidence for diagnosis
0 -
Unfortunately you've been refused for the standard copy & paste reasons that lazy assessors use…driving a manual car and working a paid job!
So it is not necessarily anything that you've done wrong with regards to evidence. The best type of evidence is real world examples from when you've attempted the tasks for each descriptor.
Your Mum could also write a statement from her point of view, confirming how she has to help you, and again putting real world examples of when she helped you.
2 -
Okay, thank you for this. Frustratingly, she did try to say these things during my assessment as I asked for her to be there, but they shut her down and basically said I needed to answer. I so wish I'd recorded it. Is it usual for assessments to only last 20 minutes? It felt very rushed
0 -
20 minutes is at the low end. Most are around 30-60 minutes. Although a long assessment is no guarantee of a PIP award either.
0 -
Some medical evidence says how your symtoms are affecting you, however it doesn't tell them how your symtoms affect you when you try a certain descriptor. Most medical evidence for this reason is useless and most of the time is not even considered by assessors.
The best overall evidence for PIP is ideally writing an A4 sheet for each descriptor detailing what happens when you try it, and what the consquences were when you attempted it. Also having witness statements of anyone who has helped you or say your struggle when you tried to do the activity. You need to write clear real world examples of what happens when you attempt a descriptor.
Also diagnosis isn't evidence for PIP.
1 -
Okay this is really helpful, thank you. I did tell them in my paper form all this stuff about how it affects me but it feels like they've not referred to it at all and just gone off the phone assessment which was very brief
0 -
They tend to briefly look through your application before the telephone appointment, but most of the time they have already made up their decision before they phone and just ask certain questions to clarify their thinking.
If you do what were suggesting above, and do an a4 sheet of paper full of details on how things affect you, and witness statements its hard for them to oppose and most of the time if you have enough evidence they don't even call you.
I have paper assessments and no phone calls each time now, and they just go of the statements and evidence I send them.
I forgot to mention as well, make sure you write your name and NI Number on each paper and I sign them.
The next stage is an MR, don't phone pip and request an MR. You should do this in writing and follow the steps above and send your own evidence and witness statements. There is no guarentee that if you do a MR on the phone that the person writes down all the information and evidence you give them.
1 -
Thank you Rubin, this has all been really great advice. Hopefully I can get somewhere with the MR. I expected to get dropped down to the lower level but I never dreamt I'd have it taken from me completely. The whole process has been awful and it's felt like they've just been accusing me of lying. I mean, I have an emotional support dog to help with anxiety, and I said she was a rescue, which she is, and they turned around and said she wasn't a support dog as I'd already admitted she was a rescue dog. Like some weird 'gotcha' moment.
0 -
Emotional support animals arn't really recognised in the UK, But I do agree they tend to try catch you out alot. Its like their training is based on thinking everyone is lying or putting it on and you get bonus points for catching someone out or removing an award from someone.
The whole benefit system at the moment is messed up. Originally it took me 5/6 years to eventually get the courage to apply for PIP as the stress of it all, the horror stories and assessments put me off. At this rate they might as well hook everyone up to a lie detector test while someone shouts questions at you. It was one of the most stressful and still is one of the most stressful things in my life.
1 -
It's honestly been horrible, and the most frustrating thing of it all is that I've tried so hard to stay off other benefits because I didn't want to be a burden. I set up my own business from home so I didn't have to rely on other benefits, and yet now that's being used against me as a reason for why i don't need PIP. Feels like a lose lose situation
1
Categories
- All Categories
- 15.6K Start here and say hello!
- 7.3K Coffee lounge
- 100 Games den
- 1.7K People power
- 141 Announcements and information
- 24.4K Talk about life
- 5.9K Everyday life
- 450 Current affairs
- 2.4K Families and carers
- 882 Education and skills
- 1.9K Work
- 545 Money and bills
- 3.7K Housing and independent living
- 1.1K Transport and travel
- 625 Relationships
- 1.5K Mental health and wellbeing
- 2.5K Talk about your impairment
- 870 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
- 930 Neurological impairments and pain
- 2.1K Cerebral Palsy Network
- 1.2K Autism and neurodiversity
- 40.5K Talk about your benefits
- 6.1K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 19.9K PIP, DLA, ADP and AA
- 8.7K Universal Credit (UC)
- 5.8K Benefits and income